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Installing charging stations,
especially those featuring
higher power levels, can take
months to a year or more, due
to permitting requirements
and any capacity upgrades
that must be negotiated with the utility. According to
Ivo Steklac, CTO at EVgo, FastStart units are prefabri-
cated and can cut the time for installation down to just
a few days, as they are attached to a pad that alleviates
the need to pour a concrete foundation. The portabil-
ity of the units is beneficial to customers who may have
shorter-term leases at the locations, and where addi-
tional value can be received by moving the chargers to
another location, according to Steklac.
FreeWire Technologies is focusing on the portabil-
ity of EV chargers with its Mobi EV Charger products,
which sit atop wheels for easy relocation. The company,
which is based in San Leandro, California, currently
has chargers delivering power to 300 Volkswagen EVs
in London, in partnership with the local utility Centrica
and shared fleet operator Zipcar. FreeWire’s mobile DC
chargers can deliver up to 120 kW of power, and the
company also offers Level 2 charging. According to Ar-
cady Sosinov, CEO of FreeWire, if more than 20 vehicles
per day need to be charged, FreeWire’s service is less
costly than a stationary solution, even when factoring
in the additional labor cost of moving the chargers. The
Mobi EV Charger features battery storage, so it draws
power at a rate of 20 kW or less, which allows station
operators to avoid incurring utility demand charges,
which can add thousands of dollars per month in en-
ergy costs.
In addition to working with automakers and ride-
sharing fleets, FreeWire is partnering with utilities
such as the Sacramento Municipal Utility District
(SMUD), which is leasing out the FreeWire chargers to
fleet customers. “Utilities are looking at (mobile charg-
ing) as a non-wires solution,” said Sosinov. He added
that multi-unit dwellings can also benefit from mobileUtilities are looking at
(mobile charging) as a
non-wires solution.
Images courtesy of Freewire